Task Manager explained

One of Windows XP's most useful tools is the Task Manager, a window that lists all the programs and bits of programs that are currently running on a PC. With a little know-how, it's possible to sort out which programs are eating up such a big chunk of your memory, or determine whether an app has flipped out, eating nearly all of your processing power.

Problem is, even geeks usually don't know what half of the obscure "processes" listed in the Task Manager are. My practice has usually been to Google a process I'm interested in - usually that provides enough information to know whether it's legit and necessary, as well as possible weirdness that might happen with it. But that's a hassle.

By using the Process Library's Quick Access tool, this is all simplified. It's a little piece of freeware that puts a blue "I" icon next to each item in the Task Manager. As long as you're live online, all you need to do to gather intelligence on any process is click its icon. Very useful, and recommended!